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Computing

Computing at Stoneydelph
Technology is quickly embedding itself in every aspect of our children's lives. Children have access to technology and information like no other generation before them. At Stoneydelph, we recognise that as a result of this, it is paramount that children are equipped with the skills needed to ensure that they can operate safely and with knowledge about how the world of computers, smart technologies, AI and day-to-day technology works. We are also aware that the future will contain job markets, technological interfaces and software advancements that cannot be foreseen or even imagined at the present time. With all of this in mind, we are committed to delivering a fully embedded computing curriculum to students starting at Nursery and reception age. 
 
SpringTerm - Computing HUB Timetable and learning intent. 
 
Each class has been assigned a timetabled slot in the HUB where children are expected to use the facilities to improve and enhance children's understanding of Information Technology and Digital Literacy. In this term, children across all year groups will be growing more familiar with software which helps to deal with presenting.
All of the children across the school will start off the term learning about how we can present and creae different forms of media from presentations, to posters and even websites using Microsoft PowerPoint, Presi and Google Slides. Children in KS1 will also be using part of their computing sessions to refine their mouse controls using a physical mouse and a tracker pad on a laptop. Children in KS2 will be continuing to learn about touch typing and how to use keyboards effectively. For those in Year 3, the children will begin to do this with the highly interactive and musical BBC Dancemat resources, while those children in Years 4, 5 and 6 will continue their learning using Typing Club. Children in Reception will make use of computing equipment within their classroom this term and once settled into school will then start to make use of the Computing HUB. 
 
Below is the timetable for the ICT HUB for this term. Computing lessons are generally taught on a rotation and for consistency each phase group will have the same teacher. For Year 1 and 2, Mrs Devitt will be delivering this terms computing curriculum, whilst in year 3 and 4 it will be delivered by Mr Madhoo and Mrs Phillips will deliver the computing programme for Years 5 and 6. In years 3 & 4, each class will have a computing session on a weekly cycle either on a Monday or Friday; they will only have 1 lesson per week despite what it looks like on the timetable below. 
 
Monday - Robins, Woodpeckers & Magpies (Yr 3 & 4)
Tuesday - Hedgehogs & Foxes (Yr 1 & 2)
Wednesday - Badgers (Yr 2)
Thursday - Chestnuts (Yr 6) & Oaks (Yr 5)
Friday - Robins, Woodpeckers & Magpies (Yr 3 & 4)
 
Please see our progressions grids below for what your child should be expecting to learn over the course of working with word processing software this half term.  Children look at word processing each autumn term before moving on to presentation software in the spring and data handling software in the summer term. This is along side a set of project units which can also be seen in our long term curriculum plan.
 
To see our whole school long term plan and curriculum overview, please head to the bottom of the page.
 
 
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Year 6 Stop Motion Animation Projects  - 2023

A firm favourite of our year 6s is the unit where they get to make their own stop-motion animations. This year, all of the children have taken part in learning about the different types of film make-up and then explored how some of their favourite films use a film making method known as stop motion animation. 

Stop motion animation also takes many forms from claymation (think about Wallace and Gromit) and puppetry (think about Boxtrolls) to also including figure animation, silhouette and cut out or top down animation. In school we have made cut out/top down animation films which have shown a direct link to our latest unit of Maafa and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The children have planned, storyboarded and produce their own videos, which I'm very pleased to share with you below. 

The Capturing : A Stop Motion Animation by DW, SHP, LC and HL

A stop motion animation to tell the story of a captured African duo taken into slavery and taken on the Middle Passage to the American colonies.

The Enslaved Triangle: A Stop Motion Animation by JD, EH, AJS, KT

Two slaves are loaded, as cargo, onto a slave ship and sailed to America to work the fields. The ships continue to sail around the world to Europe and Africa with cargo and tradable goods making up a passage known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The Runaway Slave: A Stop Motion Animation by GC, AW, JK, CP

A slave attempts to runaway from the deep south of America to Canada. He is caught by the white masters who instruct him to fix the fencing around the plantation but the slave defies the owner again and this time escapes to freedom.

The Corn Incident: A Stop Motion Animation by CG, MH, LJ, HO

A starving slave picks and eats some food whilst harvesting corn, which results in a severe punishment from the white plantation overseer and owner.

The Black History: A Stop Motion Animation by JR, RG, CD, LC

A film that shows the horrors of The Middle Passage where individuals who were ill or at deaths door were tossed into the sea in a voyage that took them to Slavery.

The Slow Slave: A Stop Motion Animation by BT, MH, ATH, SS

A slow slave, working on the cotton plantations of America, is punished by the white overseer for being too slow and sold off at auction like cattle.

Please see the remaining two stop motion animation projects using the links below. 

 Project Slaves: A Stop Motion Animation by BK, KW, LW, RW

A stop motion animation that shows the journey that a slave takes around the world as part of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

https://youtu.be/9JZNRz1Xs4U

The Enslaved Triangle: A Stop Motion Animation by JD, EH, AJS, KT

Two slaves are loaded, as cargo, onto a slave ship and sailed to America to work the fields. The ships continue to sail around the world to Europe and Africa with cargo and tradable goods making up a passage known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

https://youtu.be/4ZBuPqfpfiw

 
 
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Prime VR - Virtual Reality Worships 
 
It was really exiting to have Prime VR back in with us on Wednesday 2nd November to deliver workshops to help introduce upcoming topics for all the children in key stage 2.  The workshops were a great hit with everyone who took part and we will be looking forward to hopefully having them back in school next academic year.
 
This year, the children in years 3 and 4 took part in a workshop on volcanos which was really exciting ahead of their upcoming unit on rocks, relics and rumbles. In Year 5 and 6, children were taken on a virtual trip to see the delights of China. Whilst there they looked at the busy and vibrant city of Shanghai as well as Beijing in which they looked at the ancient Forbidden City. To aid with their upcoming history unit, they also went on to look at the Terracotta Army as well as the Great Wall of China before then exploring the geography of the region including the peak of Mount Everest and The National Parks and great Lakes.
 
This year, unlike last year, the workshops that the children took part in also included moving 360 degree imagery and sound. This really added an extra dimension to the experience which really added to the value. 
 
Thank you for supporting us in being able to provide these exciting opportunities for our children. They really were enjoyed by all of the children that took part and we couldn't do it without your contributions. This year 95.2% of all children in KS2 took part with those missing out largely in part to illness absence. Fingers crossed you'll be well enough to join in next time. 
 
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Keeping Children Safe Online at School

At Stoneydelph, we believe that online safety is a crucial part of your child’s education.  Details of teaching online safety can be found under the Curriculum tab.  We ensure that the schools ICT systems are secure and protected against viruses and malware.  We block access to potentially dangerous sites and where possible, prevent the downloading of potentially dangerous files.

Click the link below for more information.

Our Computing Curriculum Intent

In line with the 2014 national Curriculum for Computing, our aim is to provide a high-quality computing education which equips children to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. The curriculum will teach children key ‘powerful knowledge’ about how computers and computer systems work and how they are designed and programmed, which will enable children to become informed and active participants in our increasingly digital society. Learners will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of computational systems of all kinds, whether or not they include computers. 

We intend that by the time children leave Stoneydelph Primary School, they will have gained key knowledge and skills in the three main areas of the computing curriculum: computer science (programming and understanding how digital system work); information technology (using computer systems to store, retrieve and send information) and; digital literacy (evaluating digital content and using technology safely and respectfully). The objectives within each strand support the development of learning across the key stages, ensuring a solid foundation for future learning and beyond. Our aim is that every Stoneydelph child leaves us with sufficient knowledge to acquire knowledge and to challenge and reassess claims within computing itself.

Our Computing Curriculum Implementation 

At Stoneydelph Primary School, the computing curriculum is delivered through a combination of a bespoke cross-curricular scheme of work as well as through weekly discrete computing lessons which together provide coverage in line with the National Curriculum. This bespoke package of learning facilitates progression across all key stages within the three strands of computing: digital literacy, information technology and computer science.

Each week, children from KS1 upwards have an hours discrete computing learning, which move children through a scheme to develop and practise their typing and mouse control skills as well as developing specific skills in the three key areas of information technology: word processing, presentation software and data handling. Computing projects are being introduced to school this year to more discreetly teach, develop and embed other areas of the computing curriculum from further information technology to computer science in line with a curriculum supported by Teach Computing and STEM Learning and will ensure that systematic progression is being made by each and every child.

Children have access to a wide range of hardware, software and resources which aid them in the acquisition of key computational skills and knowledge. Wider curriculum links and opportunities for the safe use of digital systems are considered in the wider curriculum planning of each year group. The importance of online safety is shown through regular teaching, school displays and through taking part in both anti-bullying week with a focus on cyber bullying and the annual Safer Internet Day activities. All children now have access to weekly digital literacy lessons using the Computing HUB or other computing resources. 

Our Computing Curriculum Impact

Our approach to the curriculum results in a fun, engaging and high-quality computing education for all children. 

Computing has a high profile at our school and as a result children become confident users of technology, who can use it to accomplish a wide variety of goals both in school and at home. Our children are confident using a wide range of hardware and software and are diligent learners who value online safety and respect when communicating with one another. 

Children develop secure and comprehensive knowledge of the implications of technology and digital systems and how these are important in a society where technologies and trends are rapidly evolving. They are equally as able to apply the British values of democracy, tolerance, mutual respect, rule of law and liberty when using digital systems. 

Computing Curriculum Coverage Intentions & Overviews
This academic year, we have been making a shift towards using project based discrete computing units rather than focusing on embedding the curriculum into our wider creative learning. While we want to continue to demonstrate multiple uses for computing across a range of subjects this shift has been made based on lots of research which has taken place over the last few years as well as through listening to the desires of he children here at Stoneydelph as part of their pupil voice.  It has been constructed with partnership with Teach Computing who have developed a fully sequential and progressive programme. We have tried out best to merge this with our curriculum. There are still a few gaps here and there but please bear with us as we continue to review the computing curriculum, make changes and improve standards across all year groups. 
New Reception Laptops - 2023
Look at our new laptop keys for the children in reception to use. 
 
Through Conversation with Miss Fox, we realised that children in reception found it hard to use the laptops because the keys are all written in upper case letter. After a little bit of hunting, I managed to locate these lower case key stickers and these have now been put in place on a number of devices for use in reception. 
 
Ask your children if they've been able to use them yet and what they think of them. I'm sure that by the end of the year, they will know all of the uppercase letters and will be starting to make use of the Computing HUB but until then, this is a very exciting opportunity for them. 
Our Computing HUB!
2021 was an exciting year for computing at Stoneydelph. We were able to repurpose a disused space within school and commission it into a purposely designed ICT and Computing HUB for our children from all key stages to enjoy. The room includes a wide range of brand new resources, including laptops, keyboards, headphones, cameras, iPads, webcams and microphones. The room has also been set up to include a full wall green screen for our children to make exciting use of. 
 
Children use this space each week as part of their timetabled digital literacy lesson to explore their typing and mouse skills and to learn about information technology. The staff members also have flexibility in booking the Computing HUB to facilitate other computing or curriculum learning around school. 
 
It was a really exciting development and investment in our school and our children's futures.